High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2017

The High-level Political Forum, United Nations central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, provides for the full and effective participation of all States Members of the United Nations and States members of specialized agencies.

The meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2017 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, was held from Monday, 10 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Monday, 17 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017.

The theme was "Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world". The set of goals to be reviewed in depth was the following, including Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, that will be considered each year:

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

In accordance with paragraph 84. of the 2030 Agenda, Member States have decided that the HLPF shall carry out regular voluntary reviews of the 2030 Agenda which will include developed and developing countries as well as relevant UN entities and other stakeholders. The reviews were state-led, involving ministerial and other relevant high-level participants, and provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders.

In 2017, 43 countries have volunteered to present their national voluntary reviews to the HLPF. For more details, please click here.

Participation

Governmental and non-governmental representatives planning to participate in the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) must be accredited to the United Nations in order to register for this meeting.

The following participants may attend or be represented: States Members of the United Nations and States members of specialized agencies, inter-governmental organizations, United Nations system, major groups and other stakeholders, and media.

States

Government officials, through their Permanent Missions to the United Nations in New York, should notify the UN Protocol and Liaison Service of their participation at the meeting. A letter signed by the head of chancery or an authorizing official with an official seal should be addressed to:

To obtain UN grounds pass, Permanent Missions in New York may submit their requests via the online accreditation system "eAccreditation" available through the eDelegate Portal at https://delegate.un.int. Information regarding the system can be found at http://www.un.int/protocol/

Inter-Governmental Organisations (IGOs)

IGOs interested in participating as observers in the forum are required to be accredited to the United Nations and register accordingly.

(A) United Nations accredited IGOs with an office in New York may follow the same procedure for Member States via the online accreditation system "eAccreditation" at https://delegate.un.int. They should also notify the UN Protocol and Liaison Service of their participation at the meeting. A letter signed by the head of the organization with an official stamp should be sent to the addresses mentioned above.

(B) United Nations accredited IGOs without an office in New York and already registered with the online accreditation system “eAccreditation” may follow the same procedure specified in (A) above.

(C) United Nations accredited IGOs without an office in New York and not registered with the “eAccreditation” system should follow the procedure below:

Submit a letter to the Chief of Protocol, stamped and signed by the head of the organization, with the names and functional titles of the delegation attending the meeting. In addition, the letter must include a name and an email address of the focal point of the organization handling the request.

Attach an SG.6 form for each member of the delegation (stamped and signed); (the SG.6 form can be found at http://www.un.int/protocol, under "Registration Process -> "Forms").

Send both letter and SG.6 form(s) to the Protocol and Liaison Service by fax to 1-212-963-1921 or by email to unprotocol[at]un.org.

The focal point will be notified of the accreditation approval(s) via email. The email is the actual approval notification, a hard copy of which must be presented together with a valid passport or government photo ID to the United Nations Pass and ID Unit for the issuance of a UN grounds pass. The focal point must ensure that copies of the approval notifications be given to the participants before leaving for New York.

Major Groups and other stakeholders

The registration for MGoS is now closed.

The participation of non-State actors from major groups and other stakeholders is outlined in General Assembly resolution 67/290, and based on the major groups structure articulated in Agenda 21 and the practices of the Commission on Sustainable Development. The registration of representatives from non-governmental organizations must be completed using the CSO Net online events registration system. Registrations are now open through 15 June 2017. Click here to register.

Accreditation requirements:

Representatives from major groups and other stakeholders interested in participating in the HLPF must be affiliated with properly accredited non-governmental organizations, in accordance with ECOSOC resolution 1996/31 governing the consultative relationship between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations. Those NGOs having consultative status with ECOSOC and those on the CSD Roster are eligible to register their representatives online.

Organizations in ECOSOC Consultative Status

In addition to registering through the above registration link, organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC must request grounds passes to attend the HLPF. These passes should be requested as soon as possible, and no later than 28 June 2017. Organizations that are in consultative status with ECOSOC can request up to 9 temporary grounds passes at a time, in addition to 7 annual grounds passes. These passes need to be requested through the Integrated Civil Society Organizations System (iCSO). More information on how to request grounds passes can be found on the website: http://csonet.org/?menu=86

Organizations on the CSD Roster

Organizations on the CSD Roster must use the above registration link to request temporary grounds passes for the HLPF. CSD Roster organizations can request up to 5 temporary grounds passes. Once the registration is approved, a confirmation email will be sent with further instructions on how to download a confirmation letter from the CSO Net registration system. Information on how to obtain temporary grounds passes for organizations on CSD Roster will be sent to approved participants after registration is closed.

Travel, Visa and Subsistence

All participants are responsible for securing their own funding for travel and subsistence and for making their own travel arrangements. You will also need to make your own U. S. visa and transit visa arrangements, if applicable.

Coordination with Major Groups and other Stakeholders Organizing Partners and Focal Points

The registration of all representatives from major groups and other stakeholders should be coordinated through accredited NGOs. For help with identifying suitable and accredited partner organizations, inquiries should be directed to the designated focal point for each MGoS constituency.

Media accreditation and services

Media accreditation is strictly reserved for members of the press: print, photo, radio, television, film, news agencies, and online media who represent a bona fide media organization (full guidelines are available at http://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/request.shtml).

Journalists who wish to apply for media accreditation are required to complete an online form, which is available at http://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/accreditation.shtml. All members of the media submitting a registration form will be required to upload a letter of assignment from their Bureau Chief or Editor-in-Chief addressed to the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit. Two pieces of identification bearing a photograph, including a passport, are also required. Samples of work may be requested.

Approved media members will receive an email confirmation with instructions for picking up their UN grounds pass. All media representatives will be required to wear their United Nations grounds pass at all times.

Monday, 10 July. Official Programme.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, is presently in its early years of implementation. There are many positive signs - such as the widespread adoption into countries' own development plans and strategies, and the setting up of coordinating structures and mechanisms for implementation. At the same time, certain other indicators - for example lowered projections for economic growth, or long running patterns of inequality among many different dimensions - can be cause for concern. The current year's review at the HLPF, around the theme of “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”, is a timely occasion to take stock of the overall objectives of the Agenda, and to assess current status and trends, as well as emerging issues that have the potential to significantly affect achievement over the years to come. Speakers at this session will bring their unique perspectives to bear on these issues, and indicate what they see as priorities needing urgent consideration.

A multi-level architecture is required to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development: with the national level as the lynchpin of the framework for action on, and review of, the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, through regional peer learning, and to the global level with exchange of lessons learned, gaps identified and momentum reinvigorated for further action. In this context, the regional level serves as an important nexus where feedback loops from bottom to top, and vice versa. This session will feature key regional and sub-regional players, including the Executive Secretaries of the United Nations Regional Commissions, who will exchange regional experiences to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The session will also focus on the role of regions to foster coherence between local and global levels and engage in an interactive discussion with Member States, representatives of regional and sub-regional governmental organizations, major groups and other stakeholders.

The 2030 Agenda recognized that “eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.” The multi-dimensional nature of poverty requires us to go beyond economic growth to address the root-causes and the factors that perpetuate these conditions; it requires us to end hunger and food/nutrition insecurity; it requires access to basic, quality services such as health care, education, water and sanitation, sustainable energy; it requires a clean environment where everyone can have good health and prosperity; it requires social protection, empowerment, and opportunities for decent work; it requires inclusiveness and special attention to marginalized and vulnerable groups, the furthest behind, and to eliminate the discriminations against them; it requires sensitivity to the widening disparities and inequalities within and among countries and both in urban and rural areas. This session addresses the theme through the lens of its multi-dimensional nature. A panel of experts with diverse backgrounds will facilitate discussions aiming at deepening understanding and appreciation of the various dimensions and their inter-connections, in the process of which practical recommendations will be made. A short Q&A session will follow.

*The introductory session will consist of a debate between two thinkers on the 2030 Agenda and other relevant agreements to achieve sustainable development and leave no one behind.
The session on regional and sub-regional aspects will draw attention to the most important regional and sub-regional developments in the 2030 Agenda implementation including from regional VNR countries.
The sessions on the theme will look at the theme through the lens of all 17 SDGs.
The sessions on individual SDGs will feature data on each of the SDGs as well as the state of implementation of each SDG.
The discussions on theme and SDGs will be informed both by inputs from ECOSOC functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies, a paper by MGoS, briefing notes prepared by the UN system and short background notes with questions for discussion, as well as presentations by panellists, to be followed by interactive discussions keeping in mind the principle of leaving no one behind and how SDGs are faring against it. A report of the Board of the 10YFP on SCP will also be considered with a view to give recommendations to the Board.
The session on interlinkages will address interlinkages among all six SDGs and among the rest of the SDGs including SDG 17.
The sessions on goal 17 will have as documentation agreed conclusions from the ECOSOC FFD forum and a summary of the STI Forum.
Note: Order of presentation in each session is by protocol ranking, and then by alphabetical order in accordance with country name.

Tuesday, 11 July. Official Programme.

This session is the first of the sessions to look in-depth into one of the SDGs but at the same time not losing sight of inter-linkages among the rest of the SDGs. The session will examine interlinkages and implication for policy-making and implementation to realize this goal bearing in mind in particular that to eradicate poverty, its causes and manifestations must be fully understood and addressed. Poverty eradication can only be achieved when interconnected factors are addressed together. Such factors include inclusive growth, livelihoods and decent work, social protection, access to basic infrastructure and services, food security, nutrition, health, education, empowerment of women and girls, environmental sustainability, governance and more equitable access to opportunities and distribution of income and wealth. Poverty eradication demands cross-cutting, coherent initiatives that make people less vulnerable, reduce the risks of setbacks, break patterns of discrimination, and enable all women and men to fully participate and benefit from economic growth. Concerted effort is needed to tackle the most prevalent and reoccurring constraints to eradicating poverty and these will be examined by a panel of experts that will facilitate an interactive discussion among all participants at the meeting and provide recommendations to policy-makers based on latest information and data, as well as experiences and lessons learned that have worked in a number of countries.

This session will bring together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders in an interactive dialogue on progress in ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and promoting food systems and agricultural practices that are sustainable, resilient and inclusive. Linking sustainable agriculture to poverty eradication and gender equality—including equal access to land and water, markets, technology and social protection—is crucial to enhancing the livelihoods smallholder farmers, and to restoring, safeguarding, developing and promoting sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources. The scale and complexity of the food security crises caused by conflict and natural disasters have increased dramatically in recent years and represent a significant threat to sustainable development. The discussion is expected to assess progress, identify challenges at the national and international levels, and produce integrated policy solutions.

Major groups and other stakeholder (MGoS) are crucial to the successful implementation, follow-up, and review of the 2030 Agenda. In preparation for the 2017 HLPF, MGoS contributed to review processes at all levels, including at the Regional Forums for Sustainable Development (RFSDs) and through national review mechanisms.

*The introductory session will consist of a debate between two thinkers on the 2030 Agenda and other relevant agreements to achieve sustainable development and leave no one behind.
The session on regional and sub-regional aspects will draw attention to the most important regional and sub-regional developments in the 2030 Agenda implementation including from regional VNR countries.
The sessions on the theme will look at the theme through the lens of all 17 SDGs.
The sessions on individual SDGs will feature data on each of the SDGs as well as the state of implementation of each SDG.
The discussions on theme and SDGs will be informed both by inputs from ECOSOC functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies, a paper by MGoS, briefing notes prepared by the UN system and short background notes with questions for discussion, as well as presentations by panellists, to be followed by interactive discussions keeping in mind the principle of leaving no one behind and how SDGs are faring against it. A report of the Board of the 10YFP on SCP will also be considered with a view to give recommendations to the Board.
The session on interlinkages will address interlinkages among all six SDGs and among the rest of the SDGs including SDG 17.
The sessions on goal 17 will have as documentation agreed conclusions from the ECOSOC FFD forum and a summary of the STI Forum.
Note: Order of presentation in each session is by protocol ranking, and then by alphabetical order in accordance with country name.

Wednesday, 12 July. Official Programme.

Health is a precondition, indicator and outcome of sustainable development, and this session will explore the inter-sectoral solutions that will advance the implementation of SDG 3 and the 2030 Agenda as a whole. Like all the SDGs, Goal 3 is interwoven throughout the Agenda, with its targets directly linking to targets in other goals including 2.2 (end all forms of malnutrition) 4.1 (free, equitable and good-quality secondary education), 4.2 (good-quality early childhood development), 4.7 (knowledge and skills for sustainable development), 5.2 (eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres), 5.3 (eliminate all harmful practices, including female genital mutilation), 5.6 (universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, 6.1 (access to drinking water), 6.2 (access to sanitation), 7.1 (access to modern energy services), 9.5 (enhance scientific research /increase number of R&D workers), 11.6 (air quality and municipal waste), 13.1 (resilience to natural disasters), and 16.1 (reduce violence and related death rates), among others. These interlinkages confirm that progress in health outcomes will only be achieved with progress in other related sectors, including fiscal and finance policy (e.g. taxing schemes to discourage unhealthy behaviors), nutrition, water and sanitation, air quality, road safety, education, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, migration and peace and security. The session will provide a platform for a panel of experts from a range of sectors to present perspectives on challenges, opportunities and emerging issues relevant to SDG 3 implementation.

This session will look at the implementation of goal 5 as well as interlinkages with the rest of the goals – examining a gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Despite extensive efforts made by governments to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, they continue to be subjected to discrimination, violence and harmful practices and denied the full realization of their human rights. The gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda presents an enormous opportunity to achieve gender equality, end poverty and hunger, combat inequalities within and among countries, build peaceful, just and inclusive societies, protect and promote human rights, and ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources. Through an interactive discussion facilitated by a moderator, the session will identify strategies and measures to effectively implement SDG 5, including through exploring good practices, lessons learnt, challenges and effective solutions.

This session responds to operative paragraph 14 and 16 of UNGA Resolutions 70/202 and 71/225 respectively, noting that the HLPF shall devote adequate time at its 2017 meeting and at its future meetings to continue to address the sustainable development challenges facing small island developing States. Session 9 will start with a keynote speaker addressing 2030 Agenda and SAMOA Pathway in general. Rest of the discussions will focus on Goals 1, 2 and 3. In addition to a general assessment of the state of implementation of the SAMOA Pathway, this session, featuring a panel of experts on challenges facing SIDS, will hear and discuss updates on progress made in addressing non-communicable diseases in SIDS. The burden and threat of communicable and non-communicable diseases remains a serious global concern and constitute one of the major challenges for SIDS in the twenty-first century. Equally vital is the continued need to support the right of everyone, including SIDS to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, the eradication of hunger and the provision of livelihoods for all at all ages. This session will also hear and discuss an update on progress made in the development of the Global Action Programme on food and nutrition security in SIDS.

The 2030 Agenda calls for leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first. Its success will therefore ultimately be measured against the progress made by those who are currently the most disadvantaged, a disproportionately large number of whom live in countries in special situations, or in pockets of deprivation in middle income countries, making the efforts being made to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations within these countries of vital importance to all. Through a moderated panel discussion and interaction from the floor, this session will address the challenges and opportunities faced by least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), middle-income countries (MICs), and countries in conflict and post-conflict situations in aligning their existing national priorities and plans to the SDGs, and in achieving progress toward the goals under review.

*The introductory session will consist of a debate between two thinkers on the 2030 Agenda and other relevant agreements to achieve sustainable development and leave no one behind.
The session on regional and sub-regional aspects will draw attention to the most important regional and sub-regional developments in the 2030 Agenda implementation including from regional VNR countries.
The sessions on the theme will look at the theme through the lens of all 17 SDGs.
The sessions on individual SDGs will feature data on each of the SDGs as well as the state of implementation of each SDG.
The discussions on theme and SDGs will be informed both by inputs from ECOSOC functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies, a paper by MGoS, briefing notes prepared by the UN system and short background notes with questions for discussion, as well as presentations by panellists, to be followed by interactive discussions keeping in mind the principle of leaving no one behind and how SDGs are faring against it. A report of the Board of the 10YFP on SCP will also be considered with a view to give recommendations to the Board.
The session on interlinkages will address interlinkages among all six SDGs and among the rest of the SDGs including SDG 17.
The sessions on goal 17 will have as documentation agreed conclusions from the ECOSOC FFD forum and a summary of the STI Forum.
Note: Order of presentation in each session is by protocol ranking, and then by alphabetical order in accordance with country name.

Organized by the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations, the Division for Social Policy and Development of UN DESA, the International Movement ATD Fourth World, the International Committee for October 17, the NGO Committee on Social Development and the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd

UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (UCLG) &United cities and local governments & UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS – GLOBAL TASKFORCE OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS – CO-SPONSOR: DUTCH GOVERNMENT

Thursday, 13 July. Official Programme.

SDG 9 calls for building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation. It is elaborated by nine targets in these three broad areas. An objective of the session is to discuss - in an integrated way - progress towards SDG9 and high-impact actions for the coming years. Thus it will need to also explore policy coherence among the development, infrastructure, industrialization, science, technology and innovation domains. In particular, successful integrated national policy approaches will be presented during this session, with experts tapping into the wealth of information from related capacity building projects. Identification of gaps and a better understanding of what has worked will provide much needed insight for decision-makers in the SDG9 domains.

The high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development was convened at UN Headquarters in New York from 5 to 9 June 2017. The intergovernmentally agreed outcome “Call for Action” enumerates actions that need to be undertaken by Governments and other stakeholders, while the voluntary commitments from the Conference spur solutions in order to address the adverse impacts on oceans, which act cumulatively and impair the crucial ability of the oceans to provide ecosystem services, contribute to poverty eradication and food security and act as climate regulator and an engine for economic growth and sustainable development. This session will look at the outcome of the Ocean Conference and the interlinkages of SDG14 and its targets to other goals and targets in order to provide further political guidance and encourage action in implementation of the SDG14. It will also feature expert presentations on inter-linkages between SDG14 and other SDGs and related targets.

SDG 17 calls for strengthening the “means of implementation” and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development. This cross-cutting goal is elaborated by 19 targets in the areas of finance, technology, capacity-building, trade, and systemic issues. The present session will focus on the investment and financing elements of SDG 17. It will build on the inter-governmentally agreed conclusions and recommendations of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development in 2017 (A/RES/70/1, §86). It will discuss - in an integrated way - progress towards the goal and high-impact actions for the coming years. It will also explore questions of policy and institutional coherence among multiple stakeholders and across the means of implementation. Successful, innovative financing approaches and ways to measure SDG progress will be presented, with experts from a range of sectors exploring different perspectives on existing initiatives, challenges, opportunities and emerging issues.

An objective of the session is to explore policies and actions for advancing the science, technology and innovation for achieving the SDGs, as envisaged in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which, inter alia, also launched a UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM). The TFM now facilitates multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnerships through the sharing of information, experiences, best practices and policy advice among Member States, civil society, the private sector, the scientific community, UN entities and other stakeholders. The session will engage all three components of the TFM and elicit inputs from its experts. Co-Chairs will present the mandated Summary of the "Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs". The TFM 10-Member Group of high-level representatives will further engage the Forum's recommendations.

*The introductory session will consist of a debate between two thinkers on the 2030 Agenda and other relevant agreements to achieve sustainable development and leave no one behind.
The session on regional and sub-regional aspects will draw attention to the most important regional and sub-regional developments in the 2030 Agenda implementation including from regional VNR countries.
The sessions on the theme will look at the theme through the lens of all 17 SDGs.
The sessions on individual SDGs will feature data on each of the SDGs as well as the state of implementation of each SDG.
The discussions on theme and SDGs will be informed both by inputs from ECOSOC functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies, a paper by MGoS, briefing notes prepared by the UN system and short background notes with questions for discussion, as well as presentations by panellists, to be followed by interactive discussions keeping in mind the principle of leaving no one behind and how SDGs are faring against it. A report of the Board of the 10YFP on SCP will also be considered with a view to give recommendations to the Board.
The session on interlinkages will address interlinkages among all six SDGs and among the rest of the SDGs including SDG 17.
The sessions on goal 17 will have as documentation agreed conclusions from the ECOSOC FFD forum and a summary of the STI Forum.
Note: Order of presentation in each session is by protocol ranking, and then by alphabetical order in accordance with country name.

Permanent Missions of Uruguay, Germany, Costa Rica and Sierra Leone in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

Friday, 14 July. Official Programme.

The integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the SDGs requires an in-depth discussion of the inter-connection between the various goals and targets. There is a large body of analytical research and evidence from many different sources, supporting integrated policy making, implementation and monitoring. Furthermore, the interlinked nature of the SDGs is also seen in the scope of the supporting statistical evidence needed to highlight how and where sustainable development is achieved. Such approaches can have transformative impacts, if they can adequately exploit synergies and minimize trade-offs. Recognizing this potential, many countries have already set up, cross-ministerial coordination mechanisms for the SDGs, as presented in their VNRs. This is will be the discussion in the first panel. In the second panel, the importance of statistics and data to support the 2030 Agenda and the much-needed statistical capacity development to strengthen national statistical systems will be highlighted by key experts from different data communities.

An objective and scientific understanding of the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development, their inter-linkages, and new and emerging issues is crucial to all aspects of Agenda 2030. Such an understanding should inform policies and assessments; at the same time, gaps and shortfalls in achievement can motivate science to find solutions.

Regions Refocus; Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung; South Centre; Arab NGO Network for Development; Third World Network-Africa; Institute of Law and Economics, University of Technology, Jamaica (TBC); and Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at University of the West Indies - Cave Hill (TBC)

**Each country in the group will give a presentation of maximum 15 minutes. Following the presentations, two lead discussants will give brief comments and pose questions. After the lead discussants’ comments, the floor will be open for questions from Member States, as well as Major Groups and other Stakeholders. The programme aims at allowing substantially similar time for Q&A for different sessions.
***Each country will give a presentation of maximum 15 minutes. After each presentation, the floor will be open for questions from Member States, as well as Major Groups and other Stakeholders. The programme aims at allowing substantially similar time for Q&A for different sessions.
Note: Order of presentation in each session is by protocol ranking, and then by alphabetical order in accordance with country name.

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the United Nations’ central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will be convened on 10-19 July 2017, with a theme: “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world".

World Health Organisation (WHO) Co-sponsored by Chile, France, Japan, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay, in co-operation with UHC2030, UN Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, UHC Coalition, and the World Bank Group

**Each country in the group will give a presentation of maximum 15 minutes. Following the presentations, two lead discussants will give brief comments and pose questions. After the lead discussants’ comments, the floor will be open for questions from Member States, as well as Major Groups and other Stakeholders. The programme aims at allowing substantially similar time for Q&A for different sessions.
***Each country will give a presentation of maximum 15 minutes. After each presentation, the floor will be open for questions from Member States, as well as Major Groups and other Stakeholders. The programme aims at allowing substantially similar time for Q&A for different sessions.
Note: Order of presentation in each session is by protocol ranking, and then by alphabetical order in accordance with country name.

Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Global Policy Forum, Social Watch, Third World Network, Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), Society for International Development (SID), Public Service International (PSI), with support of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Permanent Missions of Germany, Sri Lanka, and the UAE to the UN; Pace University’s Elizabeth Haub School of Law; the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); and the International Council of Environmental Law

Latin American and Caribbean Inter-Religious Alliance for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Latin American and Caribbean Secretariat of Caritas (SELACC), Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), Action by Churches Together Alliance (ACT Alliance), Central America Program of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), World Vision, Regional Ecumenical Advisory and Service Center (CREAS), Religions for Peace Latin America and the Caribbean, General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church (GBCS-UMC) and UNFPA

International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), Government of Costa Rica, Government of Zambia, UN Women, Equal Measures 2030, Save the Children, Global Citizen, Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO), Women’s Major Group

**Each country in the group will give a presentation of maximum 15 minutes. Following the presentations, two lead discussants will give brief comments and pose questions. After the lead discussants’ comments, the floor will be open for questions from Member States, as well as Major Groups and other Stakeholders. The programme aims at allowing substantially similar time for Q&A for different sessions.
***Each country will give a presentation of maximum 15 minutes. After each presentation, the floor will be open for questions from Member States, as well as Major Groups and other Stakeholders. The programme aims at allowing substantially similar time for Q&A for different sessions.
Note: Order of presentation in each session is by protocol ranking, and then by alphabetical order in accordance with country name.

International Civil Aviation Organization co-organised with Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), World Bank Group and Air Transport Action Group (ATAG)

IVECA International Virtual Schooling with The Permanent Missions of Rep. of Korea and Tunisia, UN DPI/NGO Executive Committee, CoNGO Committee on Education, Learning and Literacy, Legion of Good Will-Latin America, Young Global Leadership Foundation

The Permanent Missions of Cabo Verde, Qatar, Norway, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Tunisia and The United Kingdom, and other Members of The Global Alliance for Reporting Progress on Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies

Co-organized by: Permanent Mission of Austria, Permanent Mission of Republic of Zambia, United Nations Office of the High Representative of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Islands Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the United Nations’ central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will be convened on 10-19 July 2017, with a theme: “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world".

World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UNAIDS, and the UN Foundation.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), organized an expert group meeting (EGM) on progress in achieving SDG 2, from 12 to 13 June 2017 at UN Headquarters in New York.

On 30 and 31 May 2017, DESA and UNWomen organized an expert group meeting on SDG 5 as a contribution to the in-depth review of the goal at the 2017 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

The GSW 2017 aims to contribute to the HLPF Theme “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”. It will do so by looking at the subset of SDGs that are under review by the HLPF 2017 through the perspective of land and soils, thereby providing an integrating perspective across the SDGs. The GSW 2017 also aims to serve as bridge to empower different actors to share their priorities on the SDG implementation.

Join us for a two-day preparatory conference to take a look at the progress made on SDG 1, which calls for ending extreme poverty by 2030. The outcomes from this conference will be used as inputs in preparation for the 2017 UN High Level Political Forum to be held in July.

The objectives of the workshop are: i) to build the capacity of national major groups and other stakeholders that engage in Botswana’s follow-up and review processes of the 2030 Agenda including the 2017 HLPF and VNR session; ii) to develop a strategy for enhancing a coordinated stakeholder approach to assess progress on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs from a wide range of stakeholders. It is expected the workshop would:

(a) Review initial actions by a wide range of national and local stakeholders on the SDGs, and how these could be included in the HPLF and VNRs;
(b) Provide space for national major groups and other stakeholders and government officials to come together, discuss and generate recommendations for meaningful and sustainable engagement in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and preparation of the 2017 VNRs;
(c) Share lessons from other countries that have participated in VNRs to inform Botswana’s participation

Partners for Review intends to build a network of stakeholders from government, civil society, academia and the private sector involved in national review processes and to enable demand-oriented learning on new and emerging challenges of SDG review, follow-up and implementation on the road to 2030.

DESA Division for Sustainable Development will organize an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on 25 and 26 March 2017 in Bogota, Colombia to provide an opportunity for MGoS, along with invited experts and member states, to discuss how to ensure their effective participation and contribution the process of voluntary national reviews at the national level.

The Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) follows up on and reviews the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the UNECE region. Focusing on practical value-added and peer learning, it creates a regional space to share policy solutions, best practices and challenges in SDG implementation and helps identify major regional and subregional trends.

The 2017 Africa Regional Forum on sustainable development in preparation for the 2017 High-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) will convene at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 17 to 19 May 2017, under the theme: Ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth and prosperity for all. This theme is well aligned with that of the 2017 HLPF, which is Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world. The theme of the regional Forum is premised on a number of considerations and trends with respect to poverty eradication. For example, that the economic growth in Africa has been inadequate to eradicate poverty is well documented. Additionally, the growth generated has largely been unequal. Seven out of the 10 most unequal countries in the world are in Africa. Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in Africa therefore hinges on fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in region. Achieving gender quality and women empowerment is a critical dimension of inclusion in the region. To restructure their economies and achieve sustained growth, African countries have identified agriculture, resilient infrastructure, industry, innovation, and sustainable management of marine resources as some of the priority areas for domestic and foreign investments.

Inputs to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Please click here to access our online review platform. It is dedicated to compile voluntary inputs from countries participating in the national voluntary reviews of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, as well other voluntary governmental inputs, inputs from ECOSOC functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies and forums, inputs from major groups and other stakeholders, as well contributions from multi-stakeholder partnerships and voluntary commitments.

The theme of the 2017 High-level Political Forum on sustainable development will be “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”, which is also a central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the lead-up to the 2017 HLPF, weekly blogs by representatives of Member States, UN system, and major groups and other stakeholders will be featured in this series to present various perspectives on this theme. The role of SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14, and 17 will also be highlighted, as these goals will be in focus at the 2017 HLPF discussions.